[Author’s Note]: The Blackburn Blotter is a collection of monthly incident logs filed by Blackburn College. Since reports are compiled the following month by the Campus Community and Safety department, as well as Residence Life, they are published a month behind. For example, March’s log will be published in April. However because of our publication schedule, this issue will contain both the months of Feb. 2017 and March 2017
Some important terms to note are Clery and Title IX. A report made to Clery involves incidents that fall under the Clery Act. Examples of these incidents include: stalking, intimidation, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, underage alcohol consumption, hate speech and Title IX violations. Title IX reports are made when discrimination on the basis of sex or gender, sexual harassment or sexual violence is involved.
It is pertinent that these logs are published, so that the Blackburn community can be aware of crime on campus. This listing also promotes a better understanding of how incidents are handled at Blackburn College.
Between Feb. 1 and Feb. 22, the Campus Community and Safety department and Residence Life handled a total of 19 incidents:
- Feb. 1: Fire alarm sounded – no problem.
- Feb. 5: Two separate incidents reported. The first was a student-to-student dispute over social media. The second was an underage alcohol violation.
- Feb. 6: Fire alarm sounded – washing machine issue.
- Feb. 8: Mental health and wellness check in one of the residence halls.
- Feb. 10: Two separate incidents occurred. They were both complaints over no-contact order violations. Both of these incidents occurred in non-academic buildings.
- Feb. 13: Two separate reports were filed. One of them was a medical emergency in one of the residence halls. The other incident was marijuana odor in the hallway of one of the residence halls.
- Feb. 14: Marijuana odor in the hallway of one of the residence halls.
- Feb. 15: Three separate incidents were reported. The first was student-to-student harassment in a residence hall over social media. The other two were fire safety violations that both occurred in a residence hall.
- Feb. 20: Hit and run damage to a car on campus property.
- Feb. 22: Two separate reports were filed. The first was marijuana odor from a vehicle on campus property. The second was sexual misconduct and harassment reportable to Clery.
- Feb. 23: Mental health emergency in one of the residence halls.
- Feb. 28: Property was damaged by a student’s guest.
- Undetermined date in Feb.: Report of stalking behavior on campus.
Between March 1 and March 22, the Campus Community and Safety department and Residence Life handled a total of 15 incidents:
- March 3: Odor of marijuana reported in residence halls.
- March 5: Excessive mess in residence hall bathroom.
- March 6: Suspicion of marijuana use in residence halls.
- March 7: Odor of marijuana reported in residence halls. This report was attributed to a room and student.
- March 9: Theft reported from snack bar.
- March 10: Six incidents were reported. The first of these was the odor of marijuana in a residence hall. The remaining five were all attributed to fire safety violations in residence halls.
- March 20: Odor of marijuana in residence halls.
- March 21: Odor of marijuana in residence halls.
- March 23: Student-to-student stalking in various locations.
- March 25: Student to former student dispute off campus.
Due to the increase in reports involving underage drinking and marijuana usage Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs Heidi Heinz would like to remind students of the controlled substance policy in the student handbook (B-Book).
The controlled substances regulations outlined on page 25 states,
- If Campus Community & Safety or residence hall staff suspect a student to be in possession or under the influence of controlled substances, that suspicion will be documented.
- If any one student (or group of students) is suspected of controlled substance use multiple times, the college reserves the right, with proper prior documentation, to employ any of the following to confirm that suspicion:
- Perform a search of the student’s room and person
- Employ trained canine search teams to search a residence hall floor or wing or the car(s) of suspected student(s) parked in campus parking lots
- The Dean of Students (or designee) may require the suspected student(s) to submit to a drug test to verify that the student is drug free
- Students found guilty of illegal possession, use, or distribution (including sale) of controlled substances will receive at a minimum:
- A minimum of a $150 fine
- 1 year of social probation
- The requirement to submit to and pay for a formal drug abuse assessment
- Notification of parent(s)/guardian(s) (dependent students)
- Be required to submit to and pay for random drug screenings during the period of probation to verify he/she is staying drug free
- In addition, in cases where controlled substances and/or drug paraphernalia are found, local law enforcement authorities may be notified.